Device for rolling thin rubber articles



'April 11, 1944. H HN i 2,346,485

DEVICE FOR ROLLING THIN RUBBER ARTICLES Filed March 4, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 u 10 10 0 Fly-3 6 0 1 0 O o O O I n O a o 0 0 0 8 ZZ 1 z z o 1 o a 1 o 0 a z; w 1.1 is

Z3 7 1a 22 I Z IN V EN TOR.

Patented Apr. :1, 194.4

DEVICE FOR ROLLING THIN RUBBER ARTICLES Frederick E. Hahne, New York, N. Y., assignor to Chemical Enterprises, Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application March 4, 1942, Serial No. 433,318

4 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacturing of thin rubber articles by what is commonly known as the dipping process and may be adapted to various articles comprising an elastic elongated bodyhaving a closed and an open end such as rubber balloons, finger-cots, prophylactics, nipples, rubber gloves, bathing caps and the like, composed of any suitable material of a congealable liquid type or capable of being reduced to a solution and deposited on a form as for instance liquid latex or rubber cement. Apparatus of the class described comprise a suitable conveyor for dipping forms which are presented successively to a plurality of vats. containing treatment liq} uids such as latex or rubber cement. After passing through thetreatment liquids the forms enter drying and cooling chambers in which the treatment liquids deposited, on the forms are dried and cooledto form a film. After drying a bead is rolled on the open end of each article. Finally the: articles are cooled and removed from the dipping forms.

Theinvention has particular relation to a device adapted for use in rolling the open ends of articles.

Objects of the invention are to provide an automatic rolling device of simple construction which may be conveniently operated to roll the endof an article with great rapidity, which will be efficient and economical in operation, which will produce beads of substantially uniform crosssection andwhich is equally. suited to remove an article from its form by. rolling up the major por-,

tion of it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rolling device which maybe used to simultaneously roll the edges of articles formedon a pluralityof formsrotatably mounted on a moving form carrier without removing the forms from the carrier.

, and from the scopeof the invention indicated by the appended claims. I

In-the accompanying drawings several embodimentsof-my invention are shown.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a rolling device according to the invention taken: on line l-I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a detail of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side. view of'the rolling device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a secondembodiment of the invention similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, shows a side view of a third embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of Fig; 6.

The dipping forms I on whichthe film forming an article to be rolled is deposited, are (livided into groups for example into groups of five dipping forms arranged in'two rows. Each group is carried by a group carrier. These group carriers comprise a housing or casing 2 to which dipping forms l are rotatably secured. Their protruding upper ends carry pulleys 3.. These pulleys are operatively connected by a driving belt or driving chain d'with a master wheel 5 which is rotatably disposed on the bottom of easing 2.

arms [0 which are secured by any suitable means for instance by rivets, screws and the like, to a link of a conveyor chain I I which serves to move the clipping formsthrough and along the various treatment stations of the machine. Arms H] are provided with bearings I2 in which axle 6 is rotatable. It isapparent-from'Fig; 1 and the specification that the group carrier and the clipping forms are swingablearound axle 6 and that all dipping forms are rotated along their longitudinal axis if and when driving wheels 8 engage friction rails 9. A more comprehensive description of thegroup carrier and its arrangement is given in my co pending. application" Improvemerits in apparauts for manufacturing thin rub- EJSZZgOOdS, Serial Number 433,317, filed March' l,

The rolling device for rolling the open end of the rubber film deposited oneach dipping form by passing thesedipping forms through various treatment stations comprises a number of indibe rolled up by a brush. It is apparent from brought into operative contact with it. Each brush [3 is rigidly secured to an axle l4 which in turn is rotatably supported by a bracket l5. This bracket is mounted on a carrier I6 which is secured by any suitable means for instance angle irons, rivets, or screws, to a link of an endless conveyor chain [1. Axle l4 carries a bevel gear 18 which engages a second gevel gear l9. Bevel gear I9 is secured to an axle 2B which is rotatably mounted on carrier l6 and carries a driving wheel 2|. This driving wheel is arranged toengage'an L-shaped. friction rail 22 which is secured to a suitable stationary part of the rolling device. One friction rail is provided on each side of the group carriers. It is apparent from Fig. 3 that driving wheels 2| will be revolved when their carriers are moved along friction rails 22. A revolution of the driving wheels will in turn result in rotation of brushes I3- The rotation of the brushes is around an axle vertical to the longitudinal axis of the dipping forms which in turn rotate around their longitudinal axis. The direction of rotation of the brushes is from the upper end of the clipping forms toward the lower end. Consequently, the brushes will grip the upper edge of any film deposited on a dipping form and tend to roll such film toward the lower end of the form. The direction of rotation of the clipping forms is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2.

The conveyor chain I1 carrying the individual brushes and their carriers I6 moves around two sprocket wheels 23 and 24. Sprocket wheel 23 is coupled with a motor 25 of conventional design which serves to move the endless conveyor. The brushes are located on the conveyor at such intervals that the distance between two brushes corresponds to the distance between two dipping forms supported by a group carrier 2. The speed of endless conveyor [1 is synchronized with the speed ofthe main conveyor ll. Consequently, a brush will move with the same speed as a form and a brush after having made contact with a form will always remain in contact with the same form. The plane in which conveyor I1 is arranged is slightly downwardly inclined, seen in the traveling direction of the two conveyors. This inclined arrangement of conveyor l1 secures the rolling of a suflicient length of the film deposited on a dipping form. When a brush first comes in contact with a form on the right side end of conveyor I1, it will grip the article at the upper edge of the deposited film and roll it up a certain distance. If the brush would remain in its original position relative to the form it would become inefiective since the film within its range has been rolled up. However, while traveling together with the contacted dipping form it reaches a lower position relative to the form due to the inclination of conveyor l1. Consequently, an additional portion of the dipping form will be rolled up until finally the brush loses contact with the clipping form with which it has been in contact during its travel. Inclination and length of the upper straight section of conveyor II will determine the portion of a deposited film which will specification and drawings that by providing sumcient length and inclination of conveyor ll any desired portion of the film can be rolled. When the device is to be used for removing an article from its form, the conveyor must be dimensioned in such a manner that practically the entire film deposited on the dipping form isrolled up. Since a brush remains in continuous contact with the same dipping form, the process of rolling is very smooth and gradual. Consequently, beads formed by a limited rolling are very uniform and the "rather sensitive film will not be damaged by the rolling process.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the distance between the upper and lower straight sections of conveyor I1 is so wide that the lower straight section is below the lower end of the dipping forms. I thereby accomplish in a very simple and effective manner that the brushes do not reach the articles on the dipping forms while returning into their working position. Instead of spacing the two straight conveyor sections it is also possible to tilt the vertical'plane of theconveyor sufficiently to bring the brushes out of contact with the'dipping forms while traveling over the lower straight section.

The device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar t the device shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except as to the arrangement of the brushes. shown in Figs. 4 and 5 each brush I3 is secured on an axle 26 and rotates with it. Axle 26 is rotatably arranged in carrier [6 and carries atone end a driving wheel 21 which is arranged to engage a friction rail 22. It is apparent from the drawings that brushes :3 will revolve with axles 26 when their driving wheels engage friction rail 22. With this arrangement the frontal side 28 of a brush is in contact witha dipping form which in turn is rotated as previously described. The brushes and their carriers are secured to down.- wardly inclined conveyor H, which travels with the same speed as main conveyor .l I Due to the tilted position of conveyor H, the rotation of brushes l3 and the rotation of dipping forms I, the films deposited on the dipping forms are gradually rolled up as described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Those brushes I3 and their carriers while traveling overthe sprocket wheels I are not illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 in order not to confuse the drawings.

Figures 1 to 5 show rolling devices for the two.

arranged along a staggered line at both sides of the group carriers. Each brush is mounted on an axle 3| which is supported by a standard or bracket 32. As previously described the dipping forms are revolved around their longitudinalaxls.

These axes are vertical to therotation axles 3| of the brushes. Standards 32 are supported by longitudinal bars 33 of a frame to which they are secured by any suitable means.

Brushes 30 are rotated by means of pulleys 35 and driving wheels 36 which are operatively connected by crossed driving belts 31.

In the device The driving,

wheels for each pair of oppositely arranged brushes 30 are mounted on a common axle 38. These axles 33 are rotatably mounted on longitudinal bars 33 of the frame. Bearings 39 of conventional design may be provided to permit a rotation of axles 33. For those driving wheels 36 which have no counterpart, a shortened axle 4!] is provided which is rotatably supported by longitudinal bars 33 and extends to about the middle between the two bars 33. Each of axles 38 and 40 carries a chain wheel 4!. These chain wheels are rigidly secured to the axles and engage an endless conveyor chain 42 which is moved around sprocket wheels 43 and 44 by means of a motor 45 which is operatively connected with sprocket wheel 43 by means of driving wheel 46 and a driving belt or chain 4?. Sprocket wheels 43 and 44 are supported by driving shafts 43 and 49 which in turn are mounted in pedestals 50 and carrying longitudina1 bars 33 of the frame.

As it is apparent from Figs. 6 and '7, chain 42 when moving will rotate wheels 4! which in turn will rotate wheels 36. Since these wheels are operatively connected with brush pulleys 35, all brushes are rotated around their horizontal axles. As soon as a dipping form which is moved by the main conveyor H and simultaneously rotated as previously described comes into operative contact with the first brush at the right side of Fig. 6, the brush will grip the edge of the film previously deposited on the dipping form and begin to roll the film. The brush will roll the film until it loses contact by having rolled the portion of film corresponding to its position and by the continued forward movement of the forms. Since both brushes and dipping forms rotate, the rolling process will be very smooth and without damage to the rather sensitive film. As soon as the moving form reaches the second brush which is arranged in a lower position seen in the traveling direction of the forms indicated by an arrow, this brush will roll an additional portion of the film, etc. It is obvious from the previous description and the drawings that any portion of the film can be rolled up by the simple expedient of staggering the brushes.

A rolling device according to Figs. 6 and 7 can be used for forming beads and for a complete removal of the film from the forms. In the first case only a small portion of the entire film is rolled while in the latter case, practically the entire film is rolled.

Instead of staggering the brushes, it is also possible to arrange all brushes in the same horizontal plane and to use brushes having an increasing diameter seen in the traveling direction of the forms.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but various changes and alterations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. A device for rolling thin rubber articles of the class described comprising form supporting members, dipping forms rotatably mounted on said supporting members, means for rotatin said forms, a conveyor for moving said form supporting members along a predetermined path, brushes for operatively engaging and rolling said articles, a brush carrier for each of said brushes, said brushes being rotatably mounted on said brush carriers, means for rotating said brushes, a second conveyor for moving said brush carriers at the same speed and in the same direction as said form supporting members, said second conveyor being arranged in a position downwardly inclined relative to the position of said first conveyor and guiding means for holding each of said rotating brushes in operative contact with one of said dipping forms.

2. A device as described in claim 1 in which said second conveyor for said brush carriers is arranged to form an endless track including at least one straight section downwardly inclined relative to the path or" travel of said form supporting members and in which said rotating brushes are in operative contact with said dipping forms while said brushes are moving over said inclined straight section of the track of the second conveyor.

3. A device as described in claim 1 in which said rotatably mounted brushes are operatively connected with pulleys and in which a friction rail is arranged to be engaged by said pulleys for rotating said brushes.

4. A device for rolling thin rubber articles of the class described comprising form supporting members, dipping forms rotatably mounted on said form supporting members, means for rotating said forms, a conveyor for moving said form supporting members along a predetermined path, brushes for operatively engaging and rolling said articles, a brush carrier for each of said brushes, a second conveyor for moving said brush carriers at the same speed and in the same direction as said form supporting members, said second conveyor being arranged in a position downwardly inclined relative to the position of said first conveyor, guiding means for holding each of said brushes in operative contact with one of said dipping forms, a separate axle for mounting said brushes rotatably provided on each brush carrier, said-axle being disposed parallel to the traveling direction of said second conveyor, a pulley provided on each brush carrier, a second axle for rotatably mounting said pulleys provided on each brush carrier, said axle being disposed vertically to the traveling direction of said second conveyor, means for operatively connecting said axles provided on each of said brush carriers and at least one friction rail adapted to be engaged by said pulleys for rotating said brushes.

FREDERICK E. HAHNE. 

